Hi, I just found this message board and I have nowhere else to turn. I'm 40 years old and have been depressed off and on my whole life. I've been to doctors and counselors and tried almost every medication out there. Nothing is working for me. My pyschiatrist said that MAOIs are the last meds for me to try and then ECTs. I am NOT going the ECT route. I will try the MAIOs and have an appointment July 15 and hope to start them then. I'm currenty taking 200 mgs of Cymbalta and 150 of Topamax. The Topamax was thrown in there just as a trial since none of the antidepressants have helped. The Topamax did end my shopping and emotional eating habit abruptly which I was happy about but hasn't helped with my depressed mood at all. I have 3 kids and I want to be there for them but nothing is fun anymore. I can't think of one thing I enjoy in life. Even if I had a million dollars I wouldn't want to travel or shop or do anything. How sad is that? It's so hard for me to get through the day. I recently went back to work after not working for 7 years. I thought that might pull me out but I feel worse and on my days off and after work I just want to sleep. I have a special needs son, an unloving husband and I just feel so overwhelmed with life. I have nothing to look forward to. Has anyone here been resistant to medication and what happens next? How do I keep on going when I can't see a light at the end of the tunnel?

Have you tried natural remedies like St. John's Wort, SAM-e, 5-HTP, or Rhodiola Rosea? Sometimes these things work better for some people than prescription meds. That was the case for me. I tried Zoloft for a while. It eased my depression and anxiety but only slightly and left me feeling like a zombie. But then I tried Rhodiola and it was amazing! Not only did it alleviate the depression but it actually gave life back. I can actually enjoy things and have fun and have energy to do things. You might want to give it a try. Read the "Rhodiola Rosea works!" thread here for more info.

I am glad that you have found us. There is a lot of support on offer here and lots if people with diffrent experienes of different treatments. So you should find the help and advice you need

Aside from meds, have you tried other forms of treatments with councillors such as Cognitive behavioural Therapy (CBT)? ECT is a very extreme option (IMO) and not something that I would do without A LOT of consideration. From the sounds of your post, you have already made a decision on that and I agree with it whole heartedly.

Sunnivara is right about natural remedies as well. They can be better than conventional meds, but should be properly researched before you take them. Make sure that there are no interactions with anything you currently take and make sure the natural remedy is a safe one from a reputable supplier.

I hope some of this is useful to you

Darren

Everyone has a guardian angel. They help pick you up when you fall, comfort you through your times of need and help you appreciate the times when things are going well.

I too am glad you found this site, you will find that it is a place of comfort and good advice. I personally have travelled this road called depression and believe me I am still looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. Not to discourage you but mine has been a 21 year trip.

I could go on and on with what you are experiencing but you dont need me to tell you how bad you feel or some greate miracle to make you feel better, trust me if that were the case, I would be making a million dollars not to mention not feeling depressed 99.5% of my life.

I will tell you about a new technique that I have. It is called the VNS(Vagus Nerve Stimulator). It has been used for many years in patients with epilepsy and used for seizure control. During the study they found that the patients that were having seizures were stating how much better their moods were, hence, now just approved for depression. However, this is used for the most severe depression. Treatment resistant depression is usually the type of depression they use it for. For me it became an issue of actually dying from physical illnesses caused by my depression or being put into a long term facility(my choice). After a year of research I was implanted with this device. It has made a difference in my life! I was implanted in November 2006 and it was activated in December 2006. I have had my ups and downs with it but I am convinced that I am able to handle things in my life that maybe a year or two ago I would not have been able to handle. Believe me, my depression is by no means cured but I definately see a difference. As for meds, I take a med for my narcolepsy and 1 for my depression. There was a time when I was on more that 7 meds at one time. I have also had ECT treatments.

There are many docs that arent up to date on this and you may have to be referred to a neurologist if your doc thinks that maybe this may be a treatment for you.

Good luck

Teresa

" We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another."Luciano de Crescenzo

" Love is being stupid together."Paul Valery

" Tonight I sent an angel to watch over you, but it came back. When I asked why, it told me that angels don't watch over other angels."Unknown

Hi. I have been dealing with depression for so long now. I have tried so many anti - depressants and I got sick. When I was younger I got an anti - depressant called imipramine. It really worked. I may start taking it again but i have no insurance. Its an older drug but it works.

Keep reading as much as you can and asking questions of your doctor and other health advisors - my experience is they don't know everything!! we think they do at the beginning and that's the difference.

I have had depression for 6 years and have tried CBT - it really worked for me for a while. But now i feel lost agin - my meds are inefficient and i am so reluctant to go back to my doctor just to be weaned off my reboxitin and onto another one - the downs whilst i wait for the new one to kick in are too much to bear!!